The concept of speech recognition – the ability of computers to recognize and interpret speech – is not new. In fact, it has been a hot topic of interest in the computer industry for as long as there have been computers around. Voice recognition was once a distant dream but has now become an everyday reality. The idea is quite simple; speech recognition uses a microphone connected to your computer running the speech recognition program. It typically collects words spoken into the microphone and then converts the analog sound of your voice into digital data, which is then processed by the speech recognition software.

1. Dragon Speech To Text Program
2. Dragon Software Cost

Dragon speech recognition software is available in a few different forms. We reviewed Dragon Professional Individual, which is available for $300 (£349.99) or $450 (£429.00) with a compatible. Dragon’s text-to-speech capability is a natural-sounding synthesised voice that reads designated text to you, thereby simplifying proofreading and supporting new levels of multi-tasking. With Dragon Professional Individual, you can also listen to audio playback of your own dictation with the associated text highlighted on the screen. What is Dragon NaturallySpeaking Software? Dragon NaturallySpeaking software is a speech recognition program that allows the user to speak into a microphone on a computer with the software translating the spoken words into text in a text program. With a software program such as this, typing isn't necessary and the user can do away with a keyboard. Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 Home is the world’s best selling speech recognition software that lets you use your voice to get more done every day on your computer — quickly and accurately — at home, school or for hobbies. You simply talk and text appears on the screen up to three time faster than typing.

Microsoft has had a speech recognition program for years, but it did not become part of the Microsoft operating systems until the release of Windows Vista in 2006. Microsoft has added some features to its speech recognition program in the current Windows 10 operating system. Speech recognition has improved dramatically over the years. And while Window Speech Recognition may sound like a great deal for those with additional needs, it is not the only speech recognition software out there. And when it comes to speech recognition, Dragon NaturallySpeaking (or Dragon) is pretty much the only game in town. Dragon is probably the world’s best voice recognition software package out there.

What is Windows Speech Recognition?

Windows Speech Recognition is the Microsoft’s proprietary voice recognition program that comes pre-built with Windows operating systems. Microsoft has had the speech recognition built-in since the Windows Vista. The speech recognition allows you to control the desktop user interface with your voice. It not only allows you to control your PC with your voice but also dictate text a hell of a lot faster than you can type. To use speech recognition, you need a PC with a microphone. The setup is quite simple; you just have to set up the microphone and train the computer to recognize your voice and you’re good to go. It picks up words spoken into the microphone and then transforms the analog sound of your voice into digital data, which is then processed by the speech recognition software.

What is “Dragon”?

Dragon NaturallySpeaking, or simply called Dragon, is one of the world’s best speech recognition software that allows conversion of spoken words into text in a text program using just your voice. Dragon allows users to have complete control over their computers only with voice commands. Dragon has transformed the way people work, write and enter data. It gives the ultimate power to your lips making it the principal output device and allowing you to type faster with your voice commands than with your fingers. Dragon comes in a variety of versions and each version has its own set of features. The basic version comes with all the basic features and costs $49.99, while the more advanced professional and enterprise versions can go all the way up to $500.

Difference between Windows Speech Recognition and Dragon

Basics of Windows Speech Recognition and Dragon

– Both Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) and Dragon are among the most preferred choices when it comes to speech recognition, especially desktop dictation. WSR is the Microsoft’s very own speech recognition program that comes pre-built into Windows operating systems. Microsoft has had the speech recognition built-in since the Windows Vista. Dragon, on the other hand, is the world’s best speech recognition software package that enables you to do more on your computer in less time by just talking rather than typing words. Dragon is an all-in-one software solution from Nuance Communications.

Accuracy in Windows Speech Recognition Vs. Dragon

– Converting spoken words into text is a tricky job in itself, and Dragon lives up to the challenge. Dragon can do great things as soon as you open the package, especially with the Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium version, you get maximum accuracy with minimal errors. Dragon claims words appear on the box faster than typing with accuracy that is truly unmatched. Dragon dictates much better than most of the speech recognition programs out there, including Windows Speech Recognition. In addition, the Premium version can effectively recognize different accents to interpret different dialects of English. Dragon undoubtedly excels when it comes to accuracy.

Dragon Speech To Text Program

Cost of Windows Speech Recognition Vs. Dragon

– As Windows Speech Recognition is the Microsoft’s own voice recognition program that comes pre-built into the Windows operating systems, it is absolutely free of cost. Anyone with a Windows PC can use the Windows Speech Recognition program without paying a single dime. On the contrary, Dragon is a paid yet robust speech recognition solution that provides something for everyone, from the basic plan for the individuals that costs $49.99 to the Premium plans for professionals and enterprises that costs up to $500.

Windows Speech Recognition vs. Dragon: Comparison Chart

Summary of Windows Speech Recognition Vs. Dragon

Microsoft has had the Windows Speech Recognition of years. It’s elegantly designed and easy to setup and use, and it is surprising how useful it can be for anyone who doesn’t like to type. It not only allows you to control your PC with your voice, but also dictate text a whole lot faster than you can type. And considering it’s free of cost, it is a decent speech recognition program without any extra bells and whistles. However, it cannot match the accuracy of its archrival Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Dragon is a robust speech recognition software package that provides something for almost everyone, whether it’s a student or a professional or an enterprise.

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Dear ChuckEgg, I've been using Dragon Naturally Speaking dictation software for some time and I've been using it with a variety of word processors and programs. In some programs I can use Dragon's “Select” voice command to select any text in my document, but in other text boxes Dragon only allows me to select only what I've just dictated text. Why is this?

ChuckEgg's Answer: This feature that selects text, so that you can edit it, is Dragon NaturallySpeaking's “Select-and-Say” command. It's used for interactively navigating and editing a document by using your voice. To use NaturallySpeaking's “Select-and-Say” command, you simply say “select…” followed (without pause) by the visible text you want NaturallySpeaking to select. For example, you could say, “select applesauce [slight pause] peaches”; to select the word “applesauce” in your text, then replace it with the word “peaches.”

If you're using a fully Dragon compatible word processor or text box, you can use the Dragon NaturallySpeaking “select” voice command to directly select ANY andALL visible text; you can even use your voice to select text that you may have typed in a previous session; but when using Dragon NaturallySpeaking with a non-standard word processor or text window you can only select the text you've most recently dictated; you can't directly access saved text that you've typed or previously dictated.

Some people dictate verbatim, and never need to go back to fix what they've dictated. Those people don't have much need for the “Select-and-Say” command. However, many people, like me, may dictate and revise the same document over several sessions, and have a need to select and revise what is already written. Sometimes it's easier to revise by typing, but it can be easier to navigate and select with your voice using Dragon's “Select-and-Say” command. Once upon a time, most people used Microsoft Word. And Dragon Naturally speaking works well with many Microsoft products. But Dragon's “Select-and-Say” dictation doesn't work with web based text boxes. In my experience, you'll have the best results if you use WordPad, NotePad, or Dragon Pad and cut and paste your document to your final target only after you're completely finished dictating and editing your document.

For example, you'll find that Dragon isn't compatible with the following programs:

• WordPress is not fully Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Movable Type is not fully Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Blogger is not fully Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Foxpro is not fully Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Internet Explorer is not fully Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible

So why doesn't Dragon Naturally Spea

king “Select-and-Say” work with every computer program?

Dragon NaturallySpeaking is able to access ALL text, including saved text from previous sessions, if you're editing a text box or a word processor that that uses the Microsoft Word processing engine known as “RichEdit.” Programs that do not use the Microsoft word processing engine, “RichEdit,” only allow you to select text you've recently dictated.

In short, Dragon NaturallySpeaking allows full Select-and-Say control in any window that behaves like a standard Microsoft Word Processing edit control. An edit control is still considered standard if its window class name and window styles are similar to those of standard Microsoft Windows edit controls. So, in some cases you can “trick” Dragon Naturally Speaking into allowing full Select-and-Say in non-compatible programs. I've tried this with several programs, it has rarely worked, and isn't worth your time trying. You can read more about tricking Dragon Naturally Speaking by following the link in the resources section, below.

Below is a partial list of programs that allow full “Select-and-Say” editing, even with saved text because they use Microsoft “RichEdit.” Not all of these versions of these programs have full “Select-and-say” compatibility. ; see www.scansoft.com for details.

• Microsoft Word is Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Corel WordPerfect 10 is Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Microsoft Excel is Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Microsoft Internet Explorer is Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Microsoft Outlook is Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Eudora is Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Jarta is compatible http://www.jarte.com/
• Tapeditor works but not available

Below is a partial list of programs that are partially Dragon NaturallySpeaking compatible. That is, they only allow you to “Select-and-Say” recently dictated words from the current dictation session:

• Abi Word is not fully Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Lotus Notes is not fully Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Microsoft Access is not fully Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Microsoft PowerPoint is not fully Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• AOL Instant Messenger is not fully Dragon Naturally Speaking Compatible
• Remote Desktop Connection.

Generally, a program uses the Windows Word Processing engine if it uses one of the following dynamic link libraries, or its window class name is one of the following:

• Edit
• RichEdit
• RichEdit20A
• RichEdit20W
• RichEdit50W
• Riched32.dll
• Riched20.dll
• Msftedit.dll

Resources

• How to enable full Select-and-Say in non compatible programs: http://nuance.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3765/~/enabling-full-select-and-say-capability-in-other-applications-for-dragon
• Microsoft RichEdit details: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb787873%28VS.85%29.aspx

Dragon Software Cost

Photo Credit

Image captures and photographs by Chuck Eglinton

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